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by vouaobrasil 1255 days ago
I fully support this lawsuit, and I also fully support society taking a stand against algorithmic social media and platforms like YouTube. Moreover, I am saying this as a content creator myself who makes money!

The effects of algorithms trained to make the mind addicted are too subtle and too powerful to leave it to individuals to make their own choices about a healthy level of social media use. Moreover, most people already agree that Facebook and YouTube are not really healthy.

If implementing manipulative algorithms were restricted and made illegal with extremely heavy fines, it would improve all of society, and everyone would be happier except the executives of such companies and the people being paid outrageous salaries to make such platforms addictive. As a content creator, if the amount of money I made decreased a little, I would gladly accept that if it meant everyone else spent less time on the computer.

I am sickened at tech companies. Although I love programming, and worked as a programmer, I have vowed to never contribute a single line of code that could support such practices, and I suggest all programmers to do the same!
1 comments
shaftoe 1255 days ago
"The effects of [X] are too subtle and too powerful to leave it to individuals to make their own choices about a healthy level of [X]. Moreover, most people already agree that [X] are not really healthy."

I wholeheartedly disagree with the type of argument you are making.

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ClumsyPilot 1255 days ago
> The effects of [X] are too subtle and too powerful

X is not an inanimate substance like cocaine. Instead it's you playing poker against the house, when they can see your cards. It's you VS a massive spying machine and 100 PHDs in psychology, and they also will illegally use your data on the side.

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vouaobrasil 1255 days ago
A lot of people would. A lot of people like the idea that everyone should be able to make a free choice without regulation. No doubt my point of view is contentious and many people don't like it...not surprised.

That's true of society among many issues. Some people also disagree with disincentives on smoking such as mandatory labels on cigarette packages (which we have in my country at least).

Most societies control all sorts of things that are bad for the majority such as murder, guns, cocaine, switchblades, assault weapons, etc. I believe social media and AI should be on that list also. I get that you don't agree with that and I respect that.

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